InternetNZ launches funding round for Canterbury rebuild

InternetNZ launches funding round for Canterbury rebuild

14 November 2011

InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) today launched a new one-off funding round for initiatives aimed at the Canterbury region rebuild. A total of $435,000 is available. Preference will be given to projects from Christchurch and those that have local support.

The ‘Christchurch Funding Round’ is for projects helping the region to recover from the continuing challenges of the devastating earthquakes. Only those projects that align with InternetNZ's objects can be funded as the organisation is a registered charity.

The first stage – Expressions of Interest – closes on 30 November 2011. Details and forms are at www.internetnz.net.nz/christchurchfunding.

InternetNZ Chief Executive Vikram Kumar says, “We have previously donated to the Red Cross and funded six months of high definition video conferencing bridging services for Christchurch schools. However, our members want us to do more. So we’re dipping into our reserves. Reserves are meant for a rainy day and our members believe that the Christchurch earthquakes are such an event.

“We will be putting up a total of $500,000. This will take the total we are putting into community projects this year to $1 million.

“The balance of the $500,000 from our reserves available for Christchurch rebuild projects is $435,000. We are using an open, competitive process to invite proposals so that community-led projects that deliver the maximum value can apply with minimum overhead.”

The application process will be in 2 stages:

Stage 1 - Expressions of Interest

• Applicants submit an Expression of Interest, with a brief outline of their project.
• Shortlisted applications will be invited to proceed to Stage 2.

Stage 2 - Detailed Project Proposal

• Shortlisted applicants submit a detailed project proposal.
• Final decisions will be made by InternetNZ's governing Council.

All Expressions of Interest will be evaluated by a Grants Committee made up of representatives from the Christchurch community and InternetNZ’s governing Council by 15 December 2011. Shortlisted applicants then have till 15 February 2012 to submit detailed project proposals. InternetNZ hopes to make final decisions on the applications by the end of February 2012.

ENDS

© Scoop Media